Council debates Canadian Badlands

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Less than impressed with failed pledges made by Canada’s largest municipal partnership in the past to promote and increase town involvement, some local officials remain resolute against a membership renewal, convinced it could mean throwing good money after bad. However, answers to many of council’s previously raised concerns and questions regarding the Canadian Badlands’ level of involvement will be brought back to council on Jan. 27 for discussion and decision.
The Canadian Badlands, a municipal partnership consisting of 63 communities, sent an invoice to the Town of Strathmore for the 2016 annual shareholder levy totalling $6,423 – assuring the continuation of the membership at $0.50 per capita based on the population provided by the 2012 Municipal Affairs population list.
When council was informed of the matter of the bill and membership renewal on Dec. 16, council was left at odds on how to proceed. While some councillors were disappointed with the lack of promotion related to Strathmore and, despite hosting the Canadian Badlands Tourism Conference, said they’ve seen little benefit to the town – even having been left off the kiosks’ maps, and information centres – other council members were more reluctant to dismiss the partnership so quickly. Recognizing the possible future potential of working jointly with over 60 other communities, some felt by addressing their concerns and through better communications, Strathmore as well as the Canadian Badlands could reap greater rewards.
Administration was therefore instructed to send a letter to the organization detailing council’s concerns. As a result, the Canadian Badlands reached out to Councillor Denise Peterson, who presented a notice of motion on Jan. 13 to bring the motion that council approve the Canadian Badlands requisition.
“I’m going to speak against it now and I’ll speak against it when it comes in front of us in two weeks,” said Councillor Rocky Blokland at the Jan. 13 meeting. “I see very little benefits to belong to the Canadian Badlands. We’ve had these discussions now for four or five years, and other than the fact that they held a conference here last year, I see nothing coming out of this that will help us.”
The letter received by the Canadian Badlands included questions regarding Strathmore being omitted on the kiosk maps, information centres and on signage of the periphery of the community, membership benefits to Strathmore, and the potential future value of the membership.
In response, Canadian Badlands executive Director Brad Tucker informed Peterson that Strathmore had not been a member of the organization at the time the decision was made regarding signage and said to accommodate Strathmore after joining could have cost up to $30,000. In an interview with the Strathmore Times, Tucker confirmed that the board had previously approved matching grant funding to the maximum of $5,000 to put signage on the periphery of the community of Strathmore to indicate partnership with the Canadian Badlands. Furthermore, Strathmore is already featured on their website, Canadian Badlands map, and new pamphlet. The organization is also prepared to engage in a four-month tourism visioning process to determine Strathmore’s niche, assist in creating a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), and participate in some of Strathmore’s initiatives such as the Strathmore Stampede, CRIR, visitor information centres, council workshops, the historical society and downtown revitalization. Tuckers, who’s only been the executive director for 16 months, said one of the difficulties within the organization is keeping communication active with all members, and therefore rely on the communities for feedback and direction.
“Strathmore is sort of a clear and obvious member to have since it’s the gateway from Calgary into the region, and we also feel that there is a lot of strength to be gained by working together,” said Tucker.
“Regardless of what expectations might have been in the past, that’s really not my job and I’m hoping the job of the council is to create the best possible future for the citizens of Strathmore. I really want to work with Strathmore, want to help the community grow in its own understanding of where its tourism future might be. We just have so many ways that we can work together and we’re just keeping our fingers crossed.”
Tucker added that while it’s important to learn from the past, he feels it’s more important to move forward. According to the organization, Strathmore has benefited from last year’s conference by an estimated value of $160,000 it brought to the town, local businesses received subsidizes for certain events, and as one of only five communities with adequate capacity to host the event, there is likelihood it will be hosted here again. Furthermore, Canadian Badlands offered to pay for 50 per cent of the welcome signs.
“It seemed to me that $6,000 was a very small amount to pay for such a significant contribution,” said Councillor Denise Peterson. “While they may not have been what we expected in the past, neither were we what they perhaps needed. So it’s a new day and we can move forward in a corporation with 63 other communities that belong to Canadian Badlands, and I think we’ll be well served.”
The request to approve the requisition came back before council on Jan. 27, after the Strathmore Times went to print. Although the Canadian Badlands made many promises, at the time of the Jan. 13 meeting Councillor Blokland was still not convinced when he said: “They have said a lot of things in the last five years, and I haven’t seen anything develop other than the conference we had in town last year.”